Teen Yellowstone Employee Dies in Fall

Was hiking after first day on the job

An 18-year-old Yellowstone National Park employee died her first day on the job after falling 400 feet during a hike. Maria Sergeyevna Rumyantseva of Russia was hiking the North Rim Trail along Yellowstone's "Grand Canyon" when she ventured off trail onto a rock ledge, which gave way beneath her. "The 18-year-old was sitting on a ledge when the rock fell away. Someone was standing right behind her and, miraculously, didn't fall," said park spokesman Dan Hottle. Yellowstone park rangers responded to the 911 call and determined that Rumyantseva had sustained fatal injuries. The body was removed by helicopter the following day. The incident is still under investigation.